Guidewire locking device

ABSTRACT

A device that includes a body, a wire locking feature, and a channel. The body has an opening through which a wire is configured to extend. The channel is defined by an upper wire guiding portion and a lower wire guiding portion. The channel is configured to guide the wire between the opening and the wire locking feature. The upper wire guiding portion includes a protrusion. The wire is configured to slip past the protrusion during insertion of the wire into the channel.

FIELD

These teachings relate to a medical device, and more particularly to aguidewire locking device having one or more features for guiding and/orrestricting or preventing movement of a guidewire.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopes may be used in various medical procedures to access areas ofthe anatomy that are difficult to visualize and/or that may otherwiserequire an open procedure to access.

A guidewire is a long and relatively flexible wire that can be navigatedthrough passageways in the anatomy. During a medical procedure, aguidewire may be passed through a working channel of the endoscope andthen navigated to a site of interest in the anatomy. After the guidewirehas reached the site of interest, manually holding and maintaining thelong and flexible guidewire in a stationary position at the site ofinterest can be cumbersome.

During some medical procedures, a plurality of guidewires and/or medicalinstruments can be present at the surgical site. Manipulating one ormore guidewires and/or medical instruments while maintaining otherguidewires in a stationary position may be cumbersome. Moreover,manipulating one or more guidewires and/or medical instruments may causeone or more other guidewires to inadvertently move or become dislodgedfrom the site of interest, which may cause patient trauma, frustrate aphysician, and/or unnecessarily prolong a medical procedure.

Some devices have been previously proposed to help stabilize and/ormaintain guidewires in a stationary position, such as those disclosed inUS 2004/0162465, U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,863, and 6,893,393, which are allhereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

However, at least some of the available devices are difficult orcumbersome to operate.

Moreover, some of the available devices are unable to prevent a wireloop from forming. A wire loop may form in an area between or adjacentthe endoscope and a wire locking feature, particularly in an area wherethe guidewire is bent. A wire loop may cause the distal end of theguidewire to unintendedly move, shift, or become dislodged from a siteof interest in the anatomy, which may cause patient trauma, frustrate aphysician, and/or prolong a medical procedure.

In view of at least the foregoing, improvements in the art may bedesirable.

SUMMARY

These teachings provide a device which addresses at least some of theneeds discussed above.

These teachings provide a device that has a body, a channel, and a wirelocking feature. The body has an opening through which a wire isconfigured to extend. The channel is defined by an upper wire guidingportion and a lower wire guiding portion. The wire locking feature isconfigured to immobilize a section of the wire or restrict or inhibitmovement of the wire. The channel is configured to guide the wire alonga path between the body and the wire locking feature.

These teachings provide a device that has a body. The body has anopening through which a wire is configured to extend. The device has awire guide has a channel defined by an upper wire guiding portion, anopposing lower wire guiding portion. A section of the wire is configuredto be routed into the channel. The wire guide comprises a first wirecontacting feature that is configured to contact the wire at a firstlocation. The first location is distal of the section of the wire thatis routed into the channel.

These teachings provide a device that has a body, a channel, and a wirelocking feature. The body has an opening through which a wire isconfigured to extend. The channel is defined by an upper wire guidingportion and a lower wire guiding portion. The channel is configured toguide the wire between the opening and the wire locking feature. Theupper wire guiding portion comprising a protrusion. The wire isconfigured to slip past the protrusion during insertion of the wire intothe channel.

These teachings provide a method including a step of routing a wirethrough a channel between a medical device and a wire locking feature.Prior to the routing step, the wire is passed under a protrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical device.

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of an access port of the medicaldevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wire locking device for sure with themedical device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bottom of the wire locking device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the wire locking device being installedonto the medical device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the wire locking device being removedor separated from the medical device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a locking feature or finger ofthe wire locking device engaging the access port of the medical device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a locking feature or finger ofthe wire locking device engaging the access port of the medical device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wire locking device.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wire locking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These teachings provide a medical device. The medical device may anydevice through which one or more wires or medical instruments can bepassed. The medical device may be an endoscope. The medical device maybe a bronchoscope, colonoscope, esophagoscope, or any other type ofendoscope.

The medical device may include one or more internal channels orpassageways into which or through which one or more wires or othermedical instruments may be configured to pass. Water, air, suction,medicaments, or a combination thereof may be passed through the one ormore channels or passageways of the medical device.

The medical device includes one or more access ports, providing accessinto the one or more channels or passageways of the medical device. Theone or more access ports have one or more openings into which or throughwhich one or more wires, medical instruments, or both can be inserted orremoved from the medial device. A wire locking device according to theseteachings may be configured to engage each access port of the medicaldevice.

These teachings provide a wire locking device. The wire locking devicemay function to maintain one or more guidewires (also referred to hereinas “wires”), or one or more other medical instruments, in a locked orstationary position relative to a medical device, an endoscope, apatient, anatomy, site of interest, or a combination thereof. A lockedor stationary position means that the one or more wires or medicalinstruments are inhibited, restricted, or prevented from moving axially,laterally, rotationally, or a combination thereof. The wire lockingdevice may function to lock or prevent movement of one or more wires,while a physician moves or manipulates another wire or other medicalinstrument without risk that the one or more wires may unintentionallymove or slip. The wire locking device may function to restrict orprevent, or reduce or eliminate chances of, the one or more of the wiresfrom forming loops or bends in a location between the medical device andthe one or more wire locking features. A loop that is formed mayfunction to cause the distal end of the one or more wires to move or berepositioned relative to a site of interest.

The wire locking device may engage or connect to any portion of amedical device, including an access port. The wire locking device mayengage the medical device or the access port via snap fit, friction fit,adhesive, mechanical fastener, or a combination thereof.

The wire locking device may be a single-use device meaning the device isintended to be disposed after a single use. Alternatively, the wirelocking device may be used in more than one medical procedure, and thusthe wire locking device may be autoclavable.

The wire locking device may comprise one or more channels. The one ormore channels may function to guide the one or more wires or medicalinstruments from the medical device to the wire locking features. Thechannel may function to provide a passageway, route, path, or area forthe one or more wires to pass through between the medical device and thewire locking feature. The channel may function to contact one or moreportions of the one or more wires and apply a friction force thereon torestrict or reduce movement (e.g., axial and/or rotational) of the oneor more wires within the channel. The channel may function to contactthe one or more wires in one or more areas of the wire that may be proneto form loops, for example, in areas where the wire is bent or turned,and thus reduce or eliminate chances of loops forming in those areas.

The channel may be defined by one or more portions or surfaces. Forexample, the channel may be generally rectangular or oval cross section.For example, the channel may be defined by one or more portions orsurfaces may include: an upper wire guiding portion or surface, anopposing lower wire guiding portion or surface, one or more side wallsor protrusions, or a combination thereof

The channel, or the one or more portions or surfaces thereof, may besubstantially smooth and/or have a low coefficient of friction to allowthe one or more wires to easily slide thereon when routing the wiresthrough the channel to the one or more wire locking features.

The channel, or one or more portions or surfaces thereof, may includeone or more bumps, numbs, or friction areas with a higher coefficient offriction that may function to add or apply friction or resistance ontothe one or more wires to slow, reduce, or restrict movement of the oneor more wires within the channel. This may function to slow a wire frommoving if the wire becomes separated or dislodged from the wire lockingfeature.

If the device comprises two or more channels, the channels may beprovided on top of one another.

The wire guiding device may include one or more wire contactingfeatures. A wire contacting feature may function to contact, move, bias,apply a pressure, force, or friction onto, change a direction of,reroute, or a combination thereof, one or more sections or portions ofthe one or more wires.

The one or more wire contacting features may function to contact and/orsupport the one or more wires in one or more areas where the one or morewires are bent or change direction to reduce or prevent the one or morewires from forming a loop in those areas. For example, if a wire issecured at a proximal end thereof, for example via the one or more wirelocking features, and the wire is bent or turned and does not include awire contacting feature at the bend or turn location, the wire may shiftor snap and then form a loop at the bend or turn location, which mayfunction to unintentionally cause a position of the distal end of thewire to move relative to the site of interest.

The wire contacting feature may be substantially smooth to allow the oneor more wires to move or slide there along, or the wire contactingsurface may include one or more bumps, numbs, or friction areas that mayfunction to add or apply friction onto the one or more wires to restrictor reduce movement of the one or more wires there along.

A wire contacting feature may be any portion, section, or area of thechannel. A wire contacting feature may be any inside surface of thewalls or features defining the channel. For example, a wire contactingfeature may be an inside surface or ceiling of the upper wire guidingportion, an inside surface or floor of the lower wire guiding portion,the one or more walls or protrusion, or a combination thereof.

An end of the wire guiding device may include a sloped surface or fingerthat slopes in a direction of the body or opening in the body. Thesloped surface or finger may be a wire contacting surface. An angle ofthe slope of the finger may be sufficient to apply a force onto the oneor more wires to distort or bend the wire into the channel and restrictor prevent a loop from forming at the bend location. The finger orsloped surface may contact and bend or support a wire bend at locationbefore the wire enters the channel.

The wire guiding device may include one or more wire locking features.The wire locking feature may be any feature on the wire locking devicethat functions to restrict or prevent one or more of the wires frommoving. That is, after the one or more wires engage one of the wirelocking features, the wire is locked and substantially prevented frommoving axially, rotationally, or both. In other words, the wire lockingfeature functions to lock the wire in a desired, predetermined positionso that a distal end of the wire does not move relative to the site ofinterest.

The wire guiding device may include any number of wire locking features.For example, the upper wire guiding portion may include zero wirelocking features, one or more wire locking features, two or more wirelocking features, three or more features, etc. For example, the lowerwire guiding portion may include zero wire locking features, one or morewire locking features, two or more wire locking features, three or morefeatures, etc.

Each of the wire locking features may include a slot or channel, a well,and an undercut or tapered section. The features cooperate to hold thewire in place. The wire can be inserted into a slot, which may have alead in or wide opening to make it easier to route the wire therein. Thechannel may narrow or taper inwardly from the opening to an undercut ortapered section. The wire may need to be forced past the undercut ortapered section to enter the well. After the wire is forced past theundercut or tapered section, the wire may snap into the well, which maymake an audible click sound or vibration, advising the physician thatthe wire is engaged in the well. The undercut or tapered section mayfunction to hold the wire in the well and prevent the wire from comingout of the well. In order to remove the wire from within the well, thewire may be required to be forced out of the well past the undercut ortapered section. This may function to reduce or prevent chances of thewire coming out of the well prematurely or unintendedly.

A slot of a wire locking feature on the upper wire guiding portion maybe substantially aligned along an axis with a slot of a wire lockingfeature on the lower wire guiding portion. Alternatively, the slots ofon the opposing guiding features need not be aligned but may instead beoffset relative to one another.

The wire guiding device may include one or more caps. The cap may be abiopsy cap. The cap may be a cover, seal, or lid that functions to closeoff the opening into the access port or medical device. The cap mayfunction to restrict or prevent foreign objects or matter from enteringthe inside of the access port or medical device. The cap may function torestrict or prevent spilling of bodily fluids from the access port. Thecap may function to form a fluid and/or air barrier into the workingchannel of the medical device.

The cap may be integrally formed with or onto the body, or may beremovably attached thereon. The cap may include an opening that issubstantially aligned with the opening defined in the body and/or theopening of the access port on the medical device. The opening in the capmay confirm to the one or more wires extending through the cap torestrict or prevent foreign objects or matter from entering the insideof the access port or medical device. That is, the opening in the capmay expand when more than one wire is pass therethrough, and maycollapse when only one wire is passed therethrough.

The cap may be made of a rubber or polymeric material. The cap may bemade of a soft, pliable material. The cap may be made of a rigid plasticmaterial. The cap may be made of a same material as the body. The capmay be made of a different material than the body.

One or more wires or other medical devices or instruments may be passedthrough the medical device, the wire locking device, or both. The one ormore wires may be long, slender, and relatively flexible members thatmay be used to gain and maintain access in the body's narrow passagewaysduring a medical procedure that may be minimally invasive, or not.

FIG. 1 illustrates a medical device 10. The medical device 10 may anydevice through which one or more wires, guidewires, and/or medicalinstruments can be passed. The medical device 10 may be an endoscope.

The medical device 10 comprises a proximal end 12 and an opposing distalend 14. The medical device 10 comprises an opening, port, or an accessport 16 through which a guidewire 18, or a wire for short, two or morewires, and/or other medical instrument(s) may be provided into a channelor passageway defined inside the medical device 10. The wire(s) 18 maybe guided or navigated distally through the channel or passageway of themedical device 10 and then extend out of the medial device 10 through anopening defined in the distal end 14 thereof. The one or more wires 18or instruments may be guided or navigated from the medical device 10 toa site of interest in the anatomy.

FIG. 2 illustrates the access port 16 of the medical device 10 ofFIG. 1. The access port 16 provides access into the passageway definedinside the medical device 10. The access port 16 comprises a flare 20.The flare has a base 22 connected to medical instrument 10, and a ring24 attached to an upper portion of the base 22. The ring 24 has a sizeor diameter that is larger than, or flared outwardly from, the base 22.As will be discussed further below, a wire locking device 100 (FIGS. 3+)is configured to contact, engage, and/or connect to the access port 16of the medical device 10. One or more guidewires 18, wires, or othermedical instruments are configured to pass through an opening of theaccess port 16 and into one or more channels or passageway definedwithin the medical device 10 and then out of the distal end 14 of thedevice 10 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 illustrates a wire locking device 100. The device 100 comprises abody 102. The body 102 has an opening 104 through which one or morewires 18 are configured to extend. A cap or cover 105 is attached to thebody 102. The cap 105 also has an opening through which the one or morewires 18 are configured to extend. By having the cap 105 that is partof, connected to, or made integral with the device 100 or body 102, ageometry of the wire 18 can be controlled and consistently routedbetween the medical device 10 and the wire locking device 100. That is,wire curves or bends can be better controlled as the wire 18 extendsbetween the opening 104 and a wire guide 106 discussed further below,which may advantageously reduce wire loops from forming.

The wire locking device 100 comprises a wire guide 106, which may alsobe referred to as an arm, that is located adjacent to the body 102. Thewire guide 106 or arm comprises a channel 108 that is defined by anupper wire guiding portion 110 and an opposing lower wire guidingportion 112. The channel 108 is configured to guide the one or morewires 18 along a path between the body 102 and one or more wire lockingfeatures that are configured to engage and immobilize a section of thewire 18 when the wire 18 is routed into the corresponding wire lockingfeature, discussed further below.

The wire locking features include: a first wire locking feature 114 anda second wire locking feature 116, both of which are located on theupper wire guiding portion 110, and a wire locking feature 120 locatedon the lower wire guiding portion 112. These features 116, 118, 120 areillustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 6-9 and 14-15.

The upper wire guiding portion 110 comprises a first wire contactingfeature 122 that is configured to contact the wire 18 at a firstlocation 124. The first wire contacting feature 122 extends beyond aleading edge 111 of the lower wire guiding portion 112 and the channel108, and thus the first wire contacting feature 122 is configured tocontact a portion of the wire 18 that is distally located relative tothe section of the wire 18 that is located in side of the channel 108.

The first wire contacting feature 122 is a finger comprising a slopedsurface that slopes or is angled downwardly in a direction of theopening 104. The first wire contacting feature 122 or finger is locatedlaterally above the opening 104. The first wire contacting feature 122can also be seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8.

The upper wire guiding portion 110 comprises a second wire contactingfeature 126 that is configured to contact the wire 18 at a secondlocation 128. The second wire contacting feature 126 may be a ceiling136 of the upper wire guiding portion 110 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The secondwire contacting feature 136 may be an inside surface of one or both ofthe side walls 130, 132 defining the channel 108 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thesecond wire contacting feature 126 is configured to contact the wire 18at a location proximal to the location on the wire 18 where the firstwire contacting feature 122 is configured to contact the wire 18.

The first and second wire contacting features 122, 124 may function as asupport, stop, restraint, or boundary to limit vertical, horizontal,and/or lateral motion of the wire 18 as the wire 18 extends from theopening 104 to one or more of the wires locking features 116, 118, 120.Stated another way, the one or more wires 18 may form one or more loopsin places where the wire 18 is bent, turned, or changes direction. Byhaving the wire contacting features 122, 124 supporting or contactingthe wires 18 in these areas where the wire 18 may bend, turn, or changedirections, loops are restricted or prevented from forming. If a wireloop is formed, the wire 18 may be unintendedly pulled from inside thepatient or site of interest in the anatomy, which may undesirably resultin the wire 18 losing its position inside the anatomy. Therefore,preventing such wire loops from forming is desirable. Moreover, the wirecontacting features 122, 124 are configured to apply a frictional forceonto the wire 18, which functions to add resistance to the wire 18thereby reducing or preventing the wire 18 from axially, laterally, orrotationally moving.

FIG. 4 illustrates the wire locking device 100 with the wire 18 removedfor clarity. The channel 108 extends along a longitudinal axis A1 thatis generally and/or substantially perpendicular to an axis A2 that theopening 104 extends along.

In addition to the upper wire guiding portion 110 and the opposing lowerwire guiding portion 112 defining the channel 108, the channel 108 alsoincludes opposing side walls 130, 132. The walls 130, 132 are configuredto laterally maintain the one or more wires 18 within the channel 108after the wire(s) 18 have been routed therein. The walls 130, 132 may begenerally vertical walls relative to the upper and lower wire guidingportions 110, 112. The walls 130, 132 may be angled relative to theupper and lower wire guiding portions 110, 112.

Side wall 130, which may also be referred to as a protrusion, extendsdownwardly from the upper wire guiding portion 110 towards the lowerwire guiding portion 112, but does not contact the lower wire guidingportion 112. A gap 134 is defined between the lower end of the side wallor protrusion 130 and the lower wire guiding portion 112.

In some configurations, the protrusion or side wall 130 may insteadextend upwardly from the lower wire guiding portion 112 towards theupper wire guiding portion 110. In such a configuration, the gap 134would be defined between the end of the side wall or protrusion 130 andthe upper wire guiding portion 110.

While a gap or cut out is shown between the two sections or portionsdefining sidewall 132, the gap or cutout may be eliminated to have asingle, integral, continuous wall 132.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the second wire contacting feature 126, whichmay be any portion of the ceiling 136 of the upper wire guiding portion110. Additionally, or alternatively, the second wire contacting feature126 may be one or both of the inside surfaces 137, 139 of the side walls130, 132 facing the inside of the channel 108. The inside surface 137 ofprotrusion 130 is a generally flat and planar surface (See also FIG. 5)

FIG. 5 illustrates the device 100, with the cap 105 separated from thebody 102. The protrusion 130 has a rounded outside surface 137 thatfaces away from an inside of the channel 108. The wire 18 can beinserted into the channel 108 by pressing the wire 18 against therounded surface 137 and then applying a slightly downwardly force sothat the wire 18 slides downwardly along the rounded surface 137 andthen into the channel 108 along path 135. As the wire 18 slides into thechannel 108, the wire 18 may then snap upwardly and contact the ceiling136 of the upper wire guiding portion 110. The snap may be caused by thewire 18 building up potential energy in a manner similar to a spring,and then suddenly converting the potential energy to kinetic energy asthe wire is bent down around the protrusion 130 and then allowed tostraighten after the wire 18 is include the channel 108. The contact ofthe wire 18 against the ceiling 136 (and/or against the side walls 130,132 and/or bottom surface of the bottom wire guiding portion 112) mayproduce or generate an audible click sound and/or vibration, which mayprovide a tactical feedback of the wire 18 being located into thechannel 18.

Additionally, or alternatively, the wire 18 can be inserted into thechannel 108 by aligning the wire 18 with the gap 134 defined between theupper wire guiding portion 110 and the opposing lower wire guidingportion 112 and then pressing or pushing the wire 18 into the channel108.

The body 102 comprises an attachment feature 138 that is configured tocooperate with an opening 140 defined in a tether or strap 142 of thecap 105. This may advantageously allow or provide for the cap 105 to beremoved from the body 102 for cleaning and/or replacement if the cap 105becomes dirty, damaged or worn. In some configurations, the attachmentbetween the body 102 and the cap 105 can be permanent so that the cap105 cannot be separated from the body 102 without damaging either orboth of the cap 105 and body 102.

The body 102 comprises a flare 144 defined around opening 104. The flare144 is configured to cooperate with a corresponding flare engagingfeature 146 defined on an underside of the cap 105 to connect the cap105 to the body 102. The features 144, 146 cooperate to form aninterference fit for the cap 105 to stay attached to the body 102 duringhandling of the medical device 10. The cap 105 includes a pull tab 148.The pull tab 148 can be lifted by a user to aid in removing the cap 105from the body 102. The cap 105 comprises an opening 150 that isgenerally aligned with the opening 104 in the body 102 for the wire(s)18 to pass through the cap 105.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of the upper wire guiding portion 110,showing the first and second wire locking features 114, 116. While thewire locking feature 120 on the lower wire guiding portion 112 is notshown in this figure, its structure and function is substantiallysimilar to that of the first and second wire locking features 114, 116.Accordingly, the description of structure and function of the first andsecond wire locking features 114, 116 may be applicable to the structureand function of the wire locking feature 120.

Each of the first and second wire locking features 114, 116 comprises aslot 152 and a well 154. Each slot 152 extends along a correspondingaxis A3 that is substantially perpendicular to the axis A1 that thechannel 108 extends along. Each slot 152 tapers inwardly from an openend to the corresponding well 154.

With additional reference to FIG. 7, each slot 152 comprises a taperedwall 156 or undercut located adjacent the well 154 that tapers inwardlytowards the center axis A3 of the slot 152. The well 154 has a largersize or diameter than the tapered section 156. To engage the wire 18inside the wire locking features 114, 116, 120 to restrict, prevent, orinhibit movement of the wire 18, the wire 18 can be inserted into thecorresponding channel 152 in direction 157 (FIG. 6), bent around thecorresponding tapered wall 156 or undercut in direction 158 (FIG. 7),and then snapped into the corresponding well 154. Potential energystored in the wire 18 may be released as the wire 18 is bent around thetapered section 156 and snapped into the well 154, which may generate orproduce an audible click sound and/or vibration, which may provide atactical feedback of the wire 18 being engaged in the wire lockingfeature 114, 116, 120.

Referring to FIG. 8, the channel 152 of the wire locking feature 114 onthe upper wire guiding portion 110 and the channel 152 of the wirelocking feature 120 on the lower wire guiding portion 112 and aresubstantially and/or generally aligned on a common axis A4, which issubstantially and/or generally perpendicular to the axis A1 of thechannel 108. Channel 152 of wire locking feature 116 extends along anaxis A5 that is substantially and/or generally parallel to axis A4 andgenerally and/or substantially perpendicular to axis A1.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the body 102 comprises one or more snap fitfeatures or fingers 160. The body 102 comprises an edge 162 and a skirtcomprising three walls or surfaces 164 a, 164 b, 164 c surrounding theopening 104. The device 100 is free of a skirt surface on the edge 162.The skirt surfaces 164 a, 164 b, 164 c extend downwardly from theopening 104 and are longer than the edge 162.

Preferably, the body 102 comprises three snap fit features or fingers160 that are spaced equally around the opening 104. However, in someconfigurations, the body 102 may have less than three snap fit featuresor fingers 160, or more than three snap fit features or fingers. In someconfigurations, the snap fit features or fingers 160 may be unequallyspaced around the opening 104.

The snap fit features or fingers 160 are configured to be at leastpartially biasable, flexible, and/or resilient, and are configured to atleast partially deflect outwardly away from the center opening 104 whenthe wire locking device 100 initially contacts or engages the accessport 16 of the medical device 10 (FIGS. 1-2, 10) during installation ofthe wire locking device 100 onto the medical device 10.

The snap fit features or fingers 160 are also configured to deflectoutwardly away from the center opening 104 when the wire locking device100 begins to be removed or separated from the access port 16 of themedical device 10 (FIGS. 1-2, 11) so that the wire locking device 100can be separated from the medical device 10.

With additional reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, the wire locking device100 can be installed onto the medical device 10 according to a method.The method may include one or more of the steps disclosed herein. Thewire locking device 100 can be attached or installed on the device 10 byaligning the wire locking device 100 with the access port 16 of themedical device 10. The wire locking device 100 may be aligned relativeto the medical device 10 such that the skirt surfaces 164 a, 164 b, 164c and edge 162 surround the access port 16. The wire locking device 100may then be moved downwardly in a direction 155 onto the access port 16until the snap fit features or fingers 160 contact the ring 24.Continued downward movement of the device 100 onto the access port 16 indirection 155 causes the access port 16 to move or force the fingers 160to spread outwardly away from the opening 104 to make room for theaccess port 16 to fit between the fingers 160.

Further downward movement of the wire locking device 100 onto the accessport 16 eventually causes the fingers 160 to resiliently deflect or snapback inwardly towards the opening 104 into their steady state position.The fingers 160 may click or snap back against the base 22 and/or belowring 24, which may provide an audible click or tactical sound orvibration so the user knows the device 100 has been installed and isproperly seated on the medical device 10.

The snap fit features or fingers 160 may have undercuts or tabs 166 (SeeFIGS. 12 and 13) that are configured to engage a bottom surface of thering 24 to lock and maintain a connection of the wire locking device 100on the access port 16 and the medical device 10. The skirt surfaces 164a, 164 b, 164 c surrounding the access port 16 may also function as ananti-rotation feature that is/are configured to restrict or prevent thewire locking device 100 from rotating relative to or about the accessport 16.

Referring now to FIG. 11, to remove or separate the wire locking device100 from the medical device 10, a user may grasp the wire locking device100 and push or apply a rocking or pivoting force onto the body 102 orthe arm or wire guide 106 in direction 157 so that the wire lockingdevice 100 tips, rocks, or pivots on or about its edge 162 (See alsoFIG. 9) and then separated from the medical device 10.

With additional reference to FIG. 12, the force F applied onto thedevice 100 and/or the fingers 160 in direction 157 during this tipping,pushing, pivoting, and/or rocking motion will cause the fingers 160 todeflect and expand outwardly away from the opening 104 and each other sothat the fingers 160 and under cut features 166 move away from the base22 and clear enough space for the wire locking device 100 to disengagethe ring 24 so that the wire locking device 100 can be separated fromthe medical device 10.

In contrast, referring now to FIG. 13, if a force F′ is applied onto thedevice 100 or finger 160 that is not directed towards the edge 162(i.e., if the force F′ is in direction 159 or is vertical and not apushing force or an angled or rocking force towards edge 162 like inFIG. 12), the corresponding snap fit feature or finger 160 or undercut166 will prevent the force F′ from being delivered in an upwarddirection thereby restricting or preventing removal or separation of thewire locking device 100 from the medical device 10. Instead, the ring 24of the access port 16 will be pressed against one or more of the snapfit features or fingers 160 thereby increasing the grip of the wirelocking device 100 on the medical device 10.

FIGS. 14 and 15 each illustrate the wire locking device 100 with threewires 18, 18′, 18″, each engaging a corresponding one of the wirelocking features 114, 116, 120.

It is understood that the method steps disclosed herein can be performedin virtually any order. Moreover, one or more of the following methodsteps can be combined with other steps; can be omitted or eliminated;can be repeated; and/or can separated into individual or additionalsteps.

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles,and its practical application. The above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use.

Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as setforth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings.The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not withreference to this description, but should instead be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

Plural elements or steps can be provided by a single integrated elementor step. Alternatively, a single element or step might be divided intoseparate plural elements or steps.

The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element or step is notintended to foreclose additional elements or steps.

While the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish oneelement, component, region, layer or section from another region, layeror section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical termswhen used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from theteachings.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned fromthe following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by referenceinto this written description.

1) A device comprising: a body comprising an opening through which awire is configured to extend; a wire locking feature; and a channeldefined by an upper wire guiding portion and a lower wire guidingportion, the channel is configured to guide the wire between the openingand the wire locking feature, the upper wire guiding portion comprisinga protrusion, wherein the wire is configured to slip past the protrusionduring insertion of the wire into the channel. 2) The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a rounded surface alongwhich the wire is configured to slide during insertion of the wire intothe channel. 3) The device according to claim 2, wherein the roundedsurface faces away from an inside of the channel. 4) The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein after the wire slips past the protrusion,the wire is configured to contact a ceiling of the upper guidingportion. 5) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wire lockingfeature comprises a slot and a well. 6) The device according to claim 5,wherein the slot extends along a center axis that is generallyperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel. 7) The deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the slot has an open end and a taperedsection, and the well is adjacent the tapered section. 8) The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the well is larger than the taperedsection of the slot. 9) The device according to claim 7, wherein thewire is configured to be bent around the tapered section before enteringthe well. 10) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wire lockingfeature is located on the upper wire guiding portion. 11) The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein another wire locking feature is locatedon the lower wire guiding portion. 12) The device according to claim 11,wherein a slot of the wire locking feature on the upper wire guidingportion is generally aligned with a slot of the wire locking feature onthe lower wire guiding portion. 13) The device according to claim 1,wherein the channel extends along an axis that is generallyperpendicular to an axis that the opening extends along. 14) The deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the wire locking feature comprises a slotthat is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel.15) The device according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprisesopposing walls between which the wire is routed, the walls areconfigured to maintain the wire inside of the channel. 16) The deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the opposing walls are generallyperpendicular to the upper wire guiding portion and a lower wire guidingportion. 17) A method comprising: routing a wire through a channelbetween a medical device and a wire locking feature, wherein prior tothe routing, the wire is passed under a protrusion. 18) The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the channel is defined by an upper wireguiding portion and an opposing lower wire guiding portion, theprotrusion extends downwardly from the upper wire guiding portion. 19)The method according to claim 17, wherein the wire locking featurecomprises a slot that extends along an axis that is generallyperpendicular to an axis that the channel extends along. 20) The methodaccording to claim 19, wherein the wire locking feature comprises a slotand a well, the slot comprises a tapered section, and the wire is bentaround the tapered section before entering the well.